Just for fun last year, 54-year-old transplanted Montrealer Yehoshua Wolman decided to take a course in bicycle mechanics and repair given by The Toronto District School Board.
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Yehoshua Wolman starts fixing a bicycle that will be given to a child in Israel. |
When he learned that his teacher overhauled and refurbished bikes and sent them to Cuba and Africa, he decided “let me do something for my people too.”
He has established an organization called bicycles4israel, which aims to take used bikes, fix them up if needed, and ship them to Israel. He intends to raise funds to pay for the shipping.
In Israel, Wolman said, many people use bikes to get from one place to another. “They are not just a luxury.”
“I will take any bike – kids’ bikes, street bikes, women’s and men’s.” Even if the bikes can’t be salvaged, he said, he can sometimes use the parts.
Wolman said he can also use lights, mirrors, helmets, water bottles for bicycles, and their cages, horns and bells. He will even have the bikes or accessories picked up.
Once the bicycles are refurbished, he will send them to Israel. An individual from the Israeli Cycling Federation will distribute them to needy children.
Wolman said one thing he needs now is to find storage and working space. At the moment, he has 10 or 15 bikes in a friend’s garage and some on his balcony.
“But a balcony isn’t very good in the winter,” he said dryly.
To contact Wolman, call 416-689-7200 or e-mail [email protected].